I finished a quilt top on Saturday and thought today would be the perfect day to pin baste it for quilting. It's larger than a queen but slightly smaller than a traditional king so I spread the backing out on my kitchen floor and set about the task of taping it down.

Of course, that means that once I got myself down to the floor, the phone rang. It also means that I've had to stand back up 3 or 4 times because my menopausal bladder decided that today it couldn't hold more than evaporation...soooo, that pot of coffee I drank this morning, thinking I would need it to accomplish this task, has made me leave the task more than I would like to. And that is killing my aching, arthritic joints.

The saddest part of all of this?? I'm only 28!!!!! I had surgery that brought about the menopause and the menopause brought about the arthritis.

Oh dear! If I were closer I'd come help.

hang in there you'll get it done!

Maybe meds need adjusting.

AH CRAP...doesn't sound like a good time...

I'm 36 years your senior and I'm going to the church and use the tables there and stand up to sandwich my quilts. Me and floors do not get along. Down is easy.....up is so difficult:)

I feel for you...I am going through the same thing but I am 52 :roll:

Check this out ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhwNylePFAA

This is Sharon Schamber's method of basting a quilt, using boards - no more ruined knees! This is a 2-part video, be sure to see the next one too!

Do you have wall space large enough to pin it to? and an easy to use step ladder?

I do feel for you...Hope it gets better.

I guess I'm lucky, my surgial menopause didn't alter my elephant size bladder.... ( I have to remind my self to go... other wise it would be twice a day trip... I know I know.. thats bad... just always been that way...)

I am sorry you have had such health problems. I am 46 and have reached the point that it takes half the room just for me to stand up after I get down. No more popping up like I used to.

I tried Sharon Schamber's method after seeing a tutorial on this site and I really like it. Not only is it easier on the body than getting down on the floor, but it is easier on my hands not having to close so many safety pins, it is easier to cut / remove threads as needed than to remove safety pins and the sandwiched quilt lays a lot smoother.

This is the link to the tutorial here: http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-91013-1.htm. Folding tables work great and can be easily stored when not needed. I love my folding tables and use them for other quilting and non-quilting purposes, then just fold them up and out of the way when not needed.

I remember being so excited when I saw that. I went out and bought 2 boards. Then I realized I have no table big enough that the boards and quilt don't hang off the sides. :(

You need to get up off that floor girl! :D :D
Your local library might be willing to let you push a few tables together to baste (I know mine did before I got my own tables). Also churches are pretty good for this too.

But I finally went and bought two 30X60 folding tables from Cosco. They stay folded up in my garage until it's basting time. Then my hubby pulls them out, I push back my sofa, coffe table & chair and we set them up, butted up together to make a 60X60 work space. When I'm done, it all goes back to normal.

I hope you feel better soon! :-D

Sorry you're having so many problems! You'll feel better when you've finished this!

I'm sorry for all your troubles with this quilt. I feel your pain!

It sounds like you're trying to keep a sense of humor about it, though, if I'm reading between the lines correctly.

Hang in there, and try to have fun!

Oh my, I feel for you.... I use one of those JoAnne's tables and I keep shifting the quilt to baste it in different sections and it works great for me. :-D

I use banquet tables with bed raisers to bring it to a comfortable height.
Use clamps or large bull dog clips. Start in the middle and baste away.
If the quilt is bigger than the table I do the middle then move from one
corner to another until it's all done. Just make sure everything stays taut.

I definitely was trying to keep a sense of humor about it! Thanks for catching that. I finally got it all done. After I finally got my bladder totally empty, I started getting the hot flashes! :lol: IT NEVER FAILS! :lol:

This is why I only make small quilts that I can baste on my table top. Even that is sometimes challenging. If I got down on the floor I would bring the phone down there with me.... cuz I'd have to call 911 to pick me back up. LOL

wish I had a bladder that size...

just wait until you are 54....I feel exactly like you now!...But just keep on stitchin...it might keep you sane...might not!!!! LOL!!!

I asked at our church if I could use several of their tables in the gathering area when it isn't being used for some quilting and they said yes. I used 2 of the long rectangle tables pushed together and it was so much easier. Maybe your church or a park district has tables like that you can use. My knees and my back can't do the floor anymore.

Oh my. I can relate. I only have 1 kidney and pee every 10 minutes. Plus I have degenerative disc disease so getting up and down is very painful. Plus I have arthritis in my knees and hands so sewing is painful. With all this, I still manage to make quilts. I won't stop until I'm in my grave. I hope can quilt in heaven! But I'm 65 not 28. It's to be expected at my age. Just keep moving so your joints don't seize up! Keep on quiltin'.

omg....I think you are telling my story.....it's funny to tell, but not to live.....If you figure it out the bladder thing, you let me know! :lol:

Aww...my least favorite part! I really feel for you. You need to find another way to do it...spray baste, Sharon's method..something- even if its taking it to a LA'er to baste for you!

I hear you! I basted a queen Drunkard's Path yesterday and today I feel like I've been to the gym!
I had to do it at my daughter's and to be nice she bought a specific brand of coffee for me, so how could I turn a few cups down?
I hate, hate, hate basting!

Oh my, i know how you feel. i had to start basting my qlts on a folding table. now i usually use fusible batting. still do that on a table or if smaller quilts, i do them on the ironing board.

This is why I carry the phone with me everywhere. Call me and you might hear some flushing in the background!

I'm so sorry to hear your problems - and you are sooo young. A lot of us can relate to the up-and-down problems AND the bladder problems. Take some of the advice on here and use tables at a church or meeting place. Makes a lot of difference. Hugs{}{}{}

OMG I wish I had your problem.

Gentle hugs from one "hard to get up off the floor" person to another....

Google Sharon Schambers. She has a method for basting a quilt of any size and keeps you off the floor. I feel your pain and have used this method several times now and love it.

I would try the basting spray. Save your joints, and bladder.
Been there, so I feel for you. :?

check out the sandwiching and basting posts on the board. there are some good ones.

Oh you dear girl. I feel for you. That's so unfair. I hope you will be able to find a life plan, like diet, exercise (tho it sounds like you are getting it! :l ) etc. that will help ease you. There are some great suggestions here about how to sandwich quilts without getting down on the floor. I have been able to afford to send mine out to be quilted, but I think that will change with the downturn in my income now.
So glad you are quilting. Having purpose helps. All the best. Happy Quilting.
PS Can't wait to see your finished quilt. Do post photos. Now Happy Quilting!

I've never tried this, but Sharon Shaumber shows a method of basting on her website that looks really interesting. You use 2 boards and you NEVER have to crawl around on the floor - or have it get messed up when you have to leave it. Anyone used this method??

I got this hint from the board a while back and would never try to put a quilt together any other way. I don't use the hand basting method, but I do use the straight pin method with pinmoors, and that works for me. The boards are very reasonable at the lumber yard and tuck behind a bedroom door when not in use. Sure beats crawling around on the floor. I sympathize with you on that one.

I have the same problem too and have had for years somedays I can't move standing straight up much less on the floor ugh. I have two folding tables from Costco's too and they are light weight enough that if hubby isn't here I can butt them up together myself to pin nice big work space. I also don't use masking tape when pulling my backing taut. Hubby bought me clamps that he found in a dollar bin at Alco's Store. He said you can get them at Harbor Freight too but not at a dollar a piece and that is how I stretch and clamp my backing to the tables nice and taut. Of course the all time best thing Hubby did was purchase me my "Lizzy" and although sometimes I revert back to pinning that is still my favorite way of quilting NO MORE PINNING!! He got me a Tin Lizzy in July I am sew lucky. Hope you get to feeling better soon but you really need to look into those tables to help you ease some pain and tension.

I have the same problem too and have had for years somedays I can't move standing straight up much less on the floor ugh. I have two folding tables from Costco's too and they are light weight enough that if hubby isn't here I can butt them up together myself to pin nice big work space. I also don't use masking tape when pulling my backing taut. Hubby bought me clamps that he found in a dollar bin at Alco's Store. He said you can get them at Harbor Freight too but not at a dollar a piece and that is how I stretch and clamp my backing to the tables nice and taut. Of course the all time best thing Hubby did was purchase me my "Lizzy" and although sometimes I revert back to pinning that is still my favorite way of quilting NO MORE PINNING!! He got me a Tin Lizzy in July I am sew lucky. Hope you get to feeling better soon but you really need to look into those tables to help you ease some pain and tension.